Compare towns
Appleton vs Augusta vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Augusta has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
Waterville has the youngest population (median age 35.5).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Appleton | Augusta | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
19,077Highest |
17,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME |
| Appleton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Augusta and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kHighest 28% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$53,580±$4k 28% below ME |
| Appleton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
| Appleton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$978±$72 14% below ME |
| Appleton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$2,755 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2% ME: 10.7% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8% ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waterville and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #119 of 133 in ME | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.